Polyethylene film consumption growth unabated

The average annual growth rate of polyethylene film used for drying food packaging was 4% in 2006. The consumption of polyethylene resin in this area increased from 830 million pounds in 2001 to 1 billion pounds in 2006. The consumption of polyethylene for drying food packaging materials accounts for 27% of the total consumption of packaging materials market. Dry food packaging materials can be divided into four end-use markets: candies, fast foods, dried foods, and cardboard liners. Dry food packaging accounts for the largest proportion, accounting for about 50% of the total consumption. Followed by cardboard lining packaging accounted for 25%, and finally the proportion of convenience food and candy.

Although candy packaging accounts for the smallest proportion, it has the fastest growth rate, and it will increase by about 7% annually in 2006. Paperboard linings are estimated to grow by an average of 5% annually, while convenience food packaging is expected to grow by 4% annually. Although dry food packaging accounts for the largest proportion, its development is slowest, and it will increase by about 3% annually in 2006.

The development of dry food packaging film benefits from the following reasons: First, the rapid development of the society. Today's popular lifestyle and demand for convenient and quick foods are contributing factors to the development of polyethylene film packaging materials for dry foods. The growing popularity of fillable, easy-opening, upright bags has also contributed to this market. Convenient bags with zippers and pedestals have been commonly used for drying foods and convenience foods such as nuts, biscuits, and the like. Confectionery and tuna are also increasingly popular foods that can be used for closable upright convenience bags. Barrier films are very important for drying foods because they can keep the product fresh for a longer period of time. Second, low density polyethylene (LDPE) dominates. Although many dry food packaging materials require several layers of resins and materials to ensure freshness and quality, low density polyethylene (LDPE) is the most commonly used polyethylene resin in this field. Low-density polyethylene films together account for more than 50% of vinyl in the field because low-density polyethylene offers strength, gloss, softness, and maximum transparency.

Posted on